Holiday Spirit Meets High-Octane Sound at The Suffolk’s Rockabilly Christmas

The Suffolk will present its annual holiday tradition, Rockabilly Christmas, featuring Jason D. Williams, Gene Casey & The Lone Sharks, and The Vendettas, on Friday, December 19, at 8 p.m.

A perennial highlight of the season, Rockabilly Christmas brings Williams, Casey and The Lone Sharks and The Vendettas together for a night of high-energy rockabilly and holiday favorites — this year with an open dance floor.

Jason D. Williams, a pianist, singer and songwriter from Memphis, Tennessee, has spent a lifetime behind the piano working with country and rock ’n’ roll greats while forging his own unmistakable style. Deeply influenced by the music and legacy of Memphis, Williams recorded for RCA and Sun Records in the 1980s and 1990s before returning to the studio in 2010. He also appeared on the big screen, performing the piano sequences for Jerry Lee Lewis’s music in the film “Great Balls of Fire.” Williams cites Jerry Lee Lewis, Moon Mullican, Memphis Slim and Al Jolson among his inspirations.

“I’ve always welcomed the comparisons; my influences were some of the greatest entertainers ever to be seen,” Williams says.

Gene Casey & The Lone Sharks, long celebrated as East End rockabilly mainstays, return with more than two decades of performances and acclaimed original music. Casey’s songs have been featured in television shows and films and played on local and international radio. The band received the Long Island Sound Award from the Long Island Music Hall of Fame for contributions to the region’s musical landscape.

The Vendettas will open the show once again, performing 1950s jukebox hits, rockabilly rarities and modern songs by artists such as Bruce Springsteen. The band blends these styles to highlight their shared roots while offering both nostalgia and discovery.

Tickets are $35 to $65 at thesuffolk.org. Rockabilly Christmas will be held at The Suffolk, 118 East Main Street in Riverhead.